Snow Bans

During winter months, the City of Portland implements citywide parking bans for snow plowing and or snow removal. When necessary, the City may call a limited parking ban for the peninsula zone, which covers the entire peninsula east and south of I-295 or the yellow zone, which covers the Portland Downtown, Arts, and Entertainment District.

Snow / parking bans go into effect at 10 PM and continue in effect until 6 AM the following morning. However, under extreme conditions, the hours may be changed or extended.

All vehicles left on the street during a snow parking ban will be towed at the owner’s expense. Only cash, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card accepted. Sorry, no checks will be accepted. The snow impound lot can be reached at 207-774-3025.

Snow Ban Towing

All vehicles left on city streets during the parking ban times will be towed at the owner's expense. All vehicles removed from the streets during a citywide parking ban or a peninsula zone ban are towed to the city's impound lot. This is located at the Ocean Gateway Marine Terminal next to the Maine State Pier at 40 Commercial Street.- The telephone number to the snow impound lot is 207-774-3025. The impound lot is open throughout the parking ban and remains open until 7 p.m. the next day.

Only cash, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card will be accepted, no checks will be accepted:

Tow Fee: $100

Impound Fee: $35

Ticket Fee: $35

All unpaid tickets must be paid.

For information on retrieving your vehicle call the snow impound lot at 207-774-3025, or the Parking Division Office at 207-874-8443.

If your car is towed during a yellow zone parking ban, please call 207-874-8443 or 207-874-8575. Vehicles towed during these bans are brought to the towing company's individual impound lots.

Is a Snow Ban In Effect?

The city offers several convenient ways to make it easy for you to find out if a city snow ban is in effect:

View several illuminated "Parking Ban In Effect" signs located at several intersections leading into the city

Listen to radio and television broadcasts

Where to Park During a Snow Ban

The city offers numerous free options for parking on the peninsula during a snow ban. These lots are available after 5:00 PM on weekdays on the day a ban is called unless otherwise posted. School lots and unrestricted parking areas can be accessed earlier on weekends. All vehicle owners must remove their vehicles from these designated areas listed below by 7 a.m. (by 6:30 AM for school lots) the morning the ban is removed. The city may tow, at the owner's expense, any vehicle which has not been removed by the 7 a.m. deadline:

Deering Oaks - on the Tennis Court Road only - only on the left side of the road. No parking on the right side.

Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot - this is the lot behind the Ice Arena. Do not park adjacent to the Ice Arena.

Hadlock Field parking lot

All Portland Public School parking lots except the Reiche School lot which abuts the school and basketball court. *Must be out of all school lots by 6:30 AM.*

Cutter St. lots (off the Eastern Prom) -- except the middle parking lot as that will be maintained for safer sledding this year by Parks, Rec, and Facilities. The lower and upper Cutter Street lots remain available for general parking and snow ban parking.

City lot at the corner of Park and Commercial streets across the street from the IMT (International Marine Terminal) AKA Angelo's Acre 441 Commercial St.

On Peaks Island, snow ban parking is available at the Welch St. parking lot

Western Prom - Bowdoin to West Street (waterside)

Eastern Prom - Turner to East End School property light pole 33 (waterside)

Marginal Way - Plowman to just before the entrance area to the east End Waste Water treatment Plant (waterside) Please do not park in the Maine DOT Park and Ride lot on Marginal Way.

Preble Street Extension Parking Lot (Across from Hannaford) - adhere to the spaces that are designated for snow ban parking.

State Street Extension - Parking is available on State St Ext between Forest Ave & Park Ave across from the entrance to Deering Oaks Park. Left side of the road only where parking is typically available. Adhere to any no parking signs closest to Forest Ave.

Despite the fact that there’s no snow on the ground yet, the City would like to remind residents of winter storm operations information as we head into December, and encourage residents to sign up for the City's Notify Me notification system. Read on...